Karpouzopita

01 / ABOUT THE DISH

About the dish

Karpouzopita is a sweet summer specialty of the Greek island of Milos, consisting of watermelon flesh, sugar, local thyme honey, flour, cinnamon, and olive oil. This dish derives its name from the Greek words karpouzi , meaning watermelon , and pita , which means pie or flat . The watermelon mixture is poured into a baking tray, smoothened out into a flat pie or cake, and topped with plenty of white sesame seeds before baking. The pie should be baked until it develops a nice color and crispy crust on the top and bottom, but remains soft and pudding-like in the middle. There are slight variations regarding the flatness or the ingredients used for this sweet delicacy, depending on the family recipe, with some calling for making the pie thinner or thicker, or enhancing the combination with the addition of nuts or raisins. Rectangles or pizza-shaped slices of chilled karpouzopita are typically enjoyed for breakfast, although they can also be eaten as a sweet snack or dessert.